Self-feeding device for livestock



March 6, 1951 o. R. WINKLER 2,544,578

SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK Filed March 31, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a g 1- A r 29 6- 4 1% 0/ 04 2/ 20 6 My IN VEN TOR.

A TTOFA/Ex 7 OZv/LLE Z NINA 4E2 March6, 1951 o. R. WINKLER 2,544,578

SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK Filed March 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZWME Z W/MKLEE 64 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK Orville R; Winkler, Fort-Worth, Tex.

, Application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738,297

This inventionrelates to feeding devices'for livestock, or the like, and it'has particular reference to self-feedersfordispensing foods, minerals,'and similar commodities, and it principal object resides in the provision of a simpleand economical structure capable of being installed in feeding pens, pastures; and other livestock concentration points; and affords means whereby the contents'of the apparatus can be automatically dispensed by the stock feeding therefrom.

Another object Of'the invention resides in the provision of *a feeder device which islightin structure yet sturdy, and capable of? being easily ported about 'thefeeding area and'readily installed at: any desiredlocationaccessibleto livestock, affording means for-constantly maintaining a propermineral' diet" before livestock, including various types of feeds, while preventing waste and damage from wet weather.

A further object. of the .linvention'is that of providing a self-feeding device in which the feeding trough thereofis removable and capable of bein changed from time to time as rust or corrosion occurs from such products a salt, or other corrosive minerals.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a self-dispensing apparatusfor feeds and minerals for all types of livestock, including cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, andthe like, where- 'by greater efficiency in feeding programs can be other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings. wherein Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one form of the invention, taken on line l--! of Figure 2, showing the conical? bottom of the hopper, the pivotal support, and agitator devices.

Figure 2 is a lateral sectional view of the invention, taken'on lines 22I of Figure 1, illustrating the radial arrangement of tensioned agitators.

Figure 3 is aiperspective view of one of the agitator members;

Figure 4 is a'fragmentary transversesectional view of a modified form of one of the agitator members. i

.FigureS illustratesa modified form of the invention, in verticalfsectionyin which'the hopper is stationaryiwhile'the bottom and trough members rotate.

Figure 6 'is'a perspective illustration of the 2 stationary agitator members employed in the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary detail illustration, shown partially in section, of the securing means for the top of. the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates fragmentarily, and in partial section, the arrangement of openings in the base of the hopper and agitating members.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional illustration of the invention showing modified agitating members.

Figure 10 fragmentarily shows, in partial section, the arrangement of agitator members shown in Figure 9.

Figure-ll illustrates, in elevation another modification of the invent-ion, a portion being shown broken away, illustrating a feeding device for small animals.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the form otthe invention shown in Figure 12 illustrating the expansible-stanchions.

Figure .13 is a fragmentary elevational of the invention. having spaced stanchions.

Figure 14. is a fragmentary plan view of the formoftheinvention shown in Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is a perspective illustration of one of the adjustable stanchionplates.

The invention, in its-preferred form, comprises a cylindrical hopper l0 having a substantially conical or convex cover H secured thereto by a locking band l-Z rigidly secured to the cover I! by brackets l2, as shown in Figures 1 and .7. Slots l I. in the band I2 are engageable with pins (not. shown) spaced about the upper end of the hopper l0. The lower rim i3 is rigidly secured by crimping, or other means, tothe peripheryof a conical bottom [4 whose apex l5 rises concentrically in the hopper In. A plurality of openings l6 are spaced about the lower rim l3 of the hopper Ill through which the contents of the latter are dispensed by gravity into a circular trough l1 arranged about the hopper Ill and secured to its lower rim 13 by bolts I8, or the like, as depicted in Figure 2.

The trough l! is secured by the bolts l8 to horizontally arranged angle members 20 which are radially positioned and have a central bore 2! which embraces a tubular standard 22 by which the entire assembly is pivotally or rotatably supported, as in Figure 1. The standard 22 is adapted to be inserted in a socket 23 preferabl set in concrete 24 in the ground 25. A pin 26 is arranged transversely through the standard 22 providing a stop which bears against the top of the socket 23 to support the assembly therein.

view

The conical bottom I4 is secured to the upper end of a sleeve 2'! by a pin 28 arranged transversely therethrough and having its ends extending through the inclined surfaces of the bottom I4. The lower end of the sleeve 21, which latter rotatably embraces the upper end of the standard 22, bears against a pin 29 arranged transversely through the standard 22 just above the radial arrangement of angle members 29 whereby the assembly is looked upon the standard 22.

Spaced about the base of the conical bottom I4 are paired sets of springs 30, opposingly arranged as in Figure 2, at each opening I6. These members engage the inner vertically arranged ends of agitator levers 3! which project through the openings I 6 and whose opposite ends are pivotally secured by bolts 32 to the bottom a of the trough I! so that the levers 3! can be oscillated against the tension of the springs 30 to agitate the contents of the hoppe I and dislodge them into the trough I'!. This can be accomplished by the tongues of animals feeding from the trough I!, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8.

Obviously, as cattle, or other animals, as the cow 33 in Figure 1, feed from the trough I! and apply their tongues thereto, the assembly may rotate but the contents of the hopper II] are evenly distributed around the trough i! so that several animals can have access thereto at one time. A modified form of the levers 3! is illustrated in transverse section in Figure 4 and comprises a lever 34 having an upturned flange 35 which will expedite its movement by providing greater leverage. The levers 34 are spaced above the floor surface a of the trough I1 on their pivots 32 by spacers 36.

It is apparent in Figure that the assembly can be constructed so that the hopper I 0 is supported rigidly upon the upper end of the standard 22 which, in this form of the invention, extends upwardly through the hopper I0. An arrangement of angle members 31, providing a frame rigidly secured to the inner wall surfaces of the hopper ID, affords a rigid support for the latter. The standard 22 is inserted into a socket 23, as in the case of the structure shown in Figure 1, and the trough I'!, not being connected to the lower rim I3 of the hopper I9, is rotatably supported on the standard 22 by a collar 38 retained by a pin 39 arranged transversely of the standard 22.

In the structure shown in Figure 5 the conically formed bottom 40 has an upwardly extending integral tube 4! which surrounds the upper end of the standard 22 and serves to prevent the contents of the hopper I 0 from dropping through the bottom 40 around the standard 22. The lower rim 42 of the bottom 40 is secured by bolts 43 to the trough I! rendering the bottom 40 and trough I l a rigid assembly capable of rotating as a unit. The lower rim I3 of the hopper I!) being spaced above the surface a of the trough I'!, the contents of the hopper I0 can flow out into the trough I! around its entire circumference. The rigidly mounted agitator members 44, attached to the inner wall surfaces of the hopper I0 near its lower rim I3, aid in dislodging the contents as the trough I! is rotated with the bottom 49. One of the members 44 is shown in detail in Figure 6.

A different type of agitator levers 45 is shown in Figures 9 and although the structure is otherwise identical with that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8. In this arrangement the members are angularly formed to depend in each opening I6 from their relatively loose pivots 46 within the hopper Ill on rivets or bolts 41, as in Figure 9, and upwardly on the outside so that these members can be actuated by animals sidewise, or inwardly and outwardly to move the contents of the hopper ID. A portion b of the members 45 are arranged between the paired sets of springs 30 to retain these members in proper operative alignment in the openings I6.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a form of the invention especially designed for feeding small animals such as calves, sheep and goats. The device is especially useful for the sneak feeding of calves to the exclusion of adult cattle by providing stanchions 48 and 49 in vertical spaced arrangement about the hopper ID. The stanchions 48 are flexibly secured and adjustable with respect to each other, as will become apparent, while the members 49are rigidly secured. The hopper assembly, including the cover and conical bottom, are formed identical with the structure illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

The stanchions 49 have their lower ends rigidly secured to the vertical rim 50 of the trough I! while their upper ends are rigidly secured to a supporting ring 5I arranged concentrically about the hopper I9, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The upper ends of the flexible stanchions 4B are pivotally secured to the ring 5! between radially projecting spaced lugs 52 thereon.

A larger ring 53 is arranged concentrically of the trough I! and is connected thereto by web plates 54 and 55, at spaced intervals, between which are defined a plurality of open spaces 56 through which the lower ends 5! of the flexible stanchions 43 extend, as apparent in Figure 11.

Adjustable cam plates 58, shown in detail in Figure 15, are attached by bolts 59 to the plates 55, as in Figure 12, and have their angular edges 60 extending into the spaces 56 to define opposing arrangements of slots 6| which flare outwardly on one side so that the stanchions 48, when stress is applied thereagainst in opposite directions and they are moved outwardly toward the ring 53, they will enter the flared portions of the slots SI and be urged apart at their lower ends. A coil spring 62 is attached to each of the stanchions 48 near their upper ends, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and at their opposite ends to a ring 63 arranged about the hopper I0, exerting a tension on the members 48 to retain them against the rim 5|) of the trough I!.

This arrangement is expedient in the feeding of young calves capable of extending their heads between the stanchions 48 to the trough I! and providing for their withdrawal by pulling backwardly against the stanchions 48 to expand them into the flared portions of the slots 6! in engagement with the cam plates 58 which latter can be moved apart and reset through the detachable medium of the bolts 59. As the calves grow, therefore, the stanchions 48 can be expanded wider by the adjustment of the cam plates 58.

It is contemplated that a grill arrangement, such as that shown in Figures 13 and 14, may be employed if desired, in which grills 64 are rigidly secured at top and bottom to and spaced outwardly from the rim 59 of the trough I! and the cover II. The grills 64 are spaced to provide openings 65 therebetween to admit a small animals head, particularly that of a calf, to the exclusion of larger or adult cattle, or the like.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications, from time to time by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self-feeder for livestock and poultry, having a cylindrical hopper adapted for rotation on a standard and having a conical bottom extending upwardly into said hopper and surrounded by an annular trough integrally secured to said hopper and said bottom and extending laterally therefrom, the combination comprising a plurality of slots formed in the wall of said hopper at the base of said conical bottom, an agitator bar arranged in each of said slots and having its outer end pivoted in the bottom of said trough and its opposite end operatively extending into its respective slot, and a pair of springs in said hopper secured to said conical bottom engaging each of said agitator bars retaining the same in operative position.

2. In a self-feeder for livestock having a cylindrical hopper arranged for rotation on a supporting standard and a conically formed bottom in said hopper having its apex projecting upwardly thereinto, the combination comprising an annular trough formed about said hopper and integral with said bottom providing a recep- ORVILLE R. WIN'KLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 961,779 Kellum June 21, 1910 1,286,002 Hoffman Nov. 26, 1918 1,311,696 Hornbeck July 29, 1919 1,477,121 Henderson Dec. 11, 1923 1,595,758 Collins Aug. 10, 1926 1,601,030 Love Sept. 28, 1926 1,788,092 Fink Jan. 6, 1931 1,874,137 Steel Aug. 30, 1932 2,226,476 Maggart Dec. 24, 1940 

